Editor’s note: Fuyang church leaders share about the struggles they and their churches are facing in this season. They say persecution has brought intense challenges over the last years, and that evangelism and discipleship are much harder than they used to be. It’s especially difficult for families seeking to give their children a Christian education, as that seems to be the center of many of the attacks. But although there are difficulties, leaders also said they see Christians persevering and having sweet personal relationships with God and one another in the midst of challenges.
China Partnership: What are some common challenges, fears, and struggles that you and your church encounter as you minister to people in Fuyang? How can we pray?
Evangelism and Shepherding
Song Xile: The first challenge is political. As control has tightened, evangelism has become harder. Fifteen years ago, we would go to a local park every few months to sing hymns, hand out gospel tracts, and hold a small outdoor worship gathering. This drew in Christians who hadn’t yet found a church. It also made the gospel and Christian faith visible, letting people know a community of believers existed here in Fuyang. That was part of our vision.
But after faith came under tighter control, we couldn’t do that. Even so, if we met someone who was curious about the gospel, we’d sit down and talk. People showed real interest, and some believed. It was actually quite fruitful. But after 2011, we stopped altogether. That is a big challenge: public evangelism has been shut down.
The government promotes the narrative that certain groups are “cults”… Because of this, a lot of people are very wary of Christianity…. So, even when we try to share the gospel privately, many people are guarded and resistant.
Private evangelism also has challenges. The government promotes the narrative that certain groups are “cults” without directly saying house churches or mainstream Christianity are cults. Because of this, a lot of people are very wary of Christianity. The government also uses the “cult” label to spread false propaganda that includes regular house churches. So, even when we try to share the gospel privately, many people are guarded and resistant; they’ve been shaped by this narrative.
Another thing that makes Fuyang hard to reach is materialism. Fuyang’s economy developed pretty late, because Fuyang is inland. People are focused on material gain: buying a house, buying a car, looking prosperous. The culture of comparison is very strong. If you ask someone to believe the gospel, their instinct is, “The most important thing right now is earning money.”
The other challenge is shepherding. Ten years ago, we could give a simple sermon, and that was enough. Believers had limited theological knowledge, and basic biblical understanding. A good sermon could engage them. But now, urban believers are more educated, and their overall knowledge is higher. Pastoral care now can’t just stop at preaching or giving advice. More and more, people are dealing with the psychological wounds of modern urban life: marriage problems, infidelity, dissatisfaction, the pull toward other things to satisfy needs that faith alone doesn’t seem to fill. The challenge of secularization is very serious.
It’s more complex to shepherd people through these issues now than it was ten or even five years ago. Now, a simple pastoral visit is not enough. You might need to sit for a long time and just listen while people try to say things they themselves don’t fully understand and can’t quite put into words. I feel this deeply.
I personally went through a serious bout of depression last year. Several others in our church are dealing with it as well. In my experience, depression is one manifestation of psychological and spiritual distress, and it’s becoming more common. A brief conversation won’t help. Pastors today need deeper counseling skills and deeper understanding to shepherd well.
As for prayer, we need to stay open to learn truth, and pastors need to be continually equipped. Faith and knowledge grow hand in hand. We need to hold fast to our church’s original vision of gospel-centered shepherding of believers. Persecution can scatter and distract from that vision, instead drawing attention toward managing the crisis.
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We say persecution is a grace from God – and it may well be – but it extracts a real spiritual cost from believers and the church. It shifts our gaze from the gospel to the crisis, from proclaiming the Word to managing fears and responses.
Nurturing the Relationship with God
Tan Jianli: I totally agree with what Elder Song said – one Sunday sermon is not enough. Yet, I’m grateful that those believers who have stayed [in church despite persecution] are taking their personal walk with God more seriously. After everything we’ve gone through together, they treasure that personal relationship. I’m thankful for that. They are staying committed to the church, and holding onto each other like brothers and sisters. They share prayer requests, chat, care about their relationship with God, and read Scripture and pray. They don’t just show up on Sunday. So, what matters most is not just the Sunday sermon – it’s the personal relationship between each person and God.
We say persecution is a grace from God – and it may well be – but it extracts a real spiritual cost from believers and the church.
I don’t really know how to solve our challenges. Please pray for the servants who are leading our church through this challenging time.
Bringing Hope Amid Persecution
Zhang Ping: Our main challenges come from two directions. The first is persecution. When we planted a new church, we grew quickly. People brought friends and family; the atmosphere was wonderful and everyone came enthusiastically. But once persecution started, seekers and friends who hadn’t fully committed got scared and stopped coming.
The second challenge is economic and cultural. People are focused on themselves and their freedom, and are drawn to material comfort. In this culture, people’s values are tilted toward the world. That makes evangelism really tough. The forces of economy and culture don’t just affect society, they also deeply affect the church. Pastoral care is harder, especially for young people – both new Christians and the adult children of believing families. You have to understand where people are coming from, how they’re responding to pressure, and then figure out how to use God’s word to shepherd them in a way that actually reaches them.
Some local pastors have been detained. We are told these pastors have been sharing the gospel with other prisoners in the jail – and it is actually going better than on the outside. In prison, people have more free time, and when prisoners hear the gospel, it’s like they’ve found a lifeline. Some are despairing, not knowing what lies ahead, and that’s their state when the pastors share with them. Many in jail are willing to listen, and some have come to believe. In prison, there is real grace to witness.
Looking at the whole picture, these times are genuinely challenging, and test the church. It brings real fear and struggle in people’s hearts. Think about it: what happens if your church is labeled as a “cult?” If your children’s schooling is threatened? Or your job and livelihood are endangered? If you don’t comply, you might lose everything because of your faith. That’s a heavy burden.
How do we, as pastors, shepherd? How do we bring hope? How do we help people realign their values so faith remains central?
Persecution of Children and Teachers
Hu Laiyang: Our school was raided a few years ago. Since then, we have been basically unable to meet together in-person. Children and teachers face the most direct persecution of any group. Children need to learn every day; they’re not like adults, who just gather [to worship] once or twice a week.
In this situation, learning has been difficult. We have done different things: rent out-of-the-way spaces in rural areas; meet in family homes; hold outdoor classes. Through all this, the academic situation has not been good, and the children’s souls have been deeply wounded. Finally, we had to begin to meet online for much of our time together.
Some local pastors have been detained. We are told these pastors have been sharing the gospel with other prisoners in the jail – and it is actually going better than on the outside… Many in jail are willing to listen, and some have come to believe.
With all this, many children have developed tics, physical and psychological symptoms [of the intense stress]. For me, that’s the most heartbreaking thing. This all creates heaviness and darkness inside.
Certain things make it worse: if parents aren’t directing them, children can fall into phone addictions. Others are only children, and are very lonely. Some families have been repeatedly questioned by the authorities, which brings even further trauma.
The school also serious financial strain. Teachers face very difficult family situations, with teachers barely getting by [on the meager school salary]. We owe these teachers a great debt.
Pastoral care for children is tough, not like it used to be when children were simpler and less “cluttered” in their hearts. Now they have opened their eyes to screens, and endless stimulation everywhere.
Song Xile, Hu Laiyang, Zhang Ping, Wu Huizhi, and Tan Jianli are pseudonyms for house church elders and deacons in Fuyang.
Pray for Fuyang believers to experience sweet and vibrant relationships with the Lord in the midst of persecution and instability.
